Tasmanian workers nation's lowest paid

By
MICHAEL LOWE

Tasmanian workers nation's lowest paid

Tasmanian workers earn an average $926.70 a week, making them the lowest paid in the nation.

Canberra workers are the best paid, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released yesterday.

The average ACT weekly wage was $1357.

The national average weekly cash earnings for all employees was $1122.60, while the average for full-time employees was $1452.

One in 10 full-time employees received weekly cash earnings of $738 or less while one in 10 full-time employees received weekly cash earnings of $2360 or more.

Average weekly cash earnings for all employees across Australia were higher for employees in the public sector ($1321.90) than in the private sector ($1074.20).

Private sector employees comprised 80.4 per cent of all employees and public sector employees 19.6 per cent.

In May last year, 49.9 per cent of all employees were male and 50.1 per cent female.

Average weekly cash earnings for male employees were $1342.50 and $904 for female employees.

Finance Minister Scott Bacon said the cost of living in Tasmania was lower and, while the ACT had a higher take home pay level, the median house price was also 80 per cent higher.

``The only way to grow wages in the long-term is through productivity growth, which is why we have invested heavily in education and training to ensure we have the workforce ready to take up the high-skilled jobs of the future,'' Mr Bacon said.

``We have also shown our commitment to job creation through the $24.5 million Tasmanian Jobs Package, which is designed to stimulate private investment and support the creation of more than 3300 new jobs.

``The package includes a range of initiatives, such as more than doubling the first home owners' grant, payroll tax incentives and investment in new jobs and business.''